Gary Naeyaert, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project, speaks at a Michigan State Board of Education meeting May 13 in Lansing.

Written by

David Jesse
GANNETT MICHIGAN

After voting with pro-charter Republicans against a variety of proposals that would have tightened Michigan's oversight of charter schools, state Rep. Paul Muxlow did an about-face that almost ended his political career in December 2011.

He voted against lifting the limits on the number of charter schools in the state.

The blowback was swift. Within months, Muxlow - a mostly party-line GOP lawmaker from Brown City - found himself struggling to survive a primary election against a challenger well-funded by the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP), a powerhouse pro-charter lobby that ...